This Does NOT . . . Work for me Wednesday

Baggies are not an acceptable substitute for piping bags.There I said it.

There are books and TV hosts out there who will tell you, just snip off the end of a baggie when piping icing...it works "just like a pasty bag." Well, they lie.

When I made Cheryl's' cookies, I ran out of piping bags. {The HORROR!} We were down to one car for the week, my husband (WITH THE CAR) was out to dinner with customers and it was 8:00 at night. I was desperate. I reached for the baggies. I even used my couplers and tips with them.

They tore, they bulged, they flopped, they were unruly....I may have said a bad word.

Trust me...if you're going to decorate cookies, make it easier on yourself, go for a piping bag.

Whew! Rant over...now go visit some happier tips over at We Are THAT Family. But tell me, are there baking tips that *don't* work for you?

funny you should mention this...I bought a 100 pack at Michaels last week and they changed their brand from Wilton to "their brand and I filled 8 of them and they all leaked at the seem! I couldn't believe it. I quickly switched to the canvas ones I have and took the remaining ones back and told them and was so glad they had one more box of Wilton's in stock...or I would have been running all over town until I found some, had more to do when I got home :) and I agree it's not at all the same, the only time I use a sandwich bag is when I have to do is "glue" some item back together before running out the door typically a decoration on a cupcake, I can't imagine piping a cookie with one;)

Hi...just recently came across your blog...thanks for the great tips. I HATE all pastry bags so I use the small decorator bottles from Pampered Chef. You can see them on their website. You get 3 in a box and they accordian down as you pipe the icing. They are a bit small but if you use them for piping the outline and use your bigger bottles for flooding, it's not too bad. They fit any Wilton tip, clean up easily and you never have to worrty about running out of bags!!! I find I have way better control and can do better lines with the bottle verses the bags. Check them out!!

LOL!! I *so* agree! It especially drives me crazy when they tell you to use them with kids. Their little hands have an even harder time managing all the extra plastic and corners, etc. I swear by my disposable bags...use a 40% coupon for wherever you buy them and they're even better ;)

I confess, when I don't have any bags left I use a ziploc. But that is on the rare occasion. I was piping small hearts, and my normal non-disposable bag and it was too thick of a line, and being out of the disposables, I had to use a ziploc. They are so hard to manage!

I agree, they just don't compare! I actually used small freezer bags until just a few months ago unless I needed to use a specific tip. I just didn't want to wash all the tips and couplers every time. But then walmart changed their freezer bags and didn't work the same so I started only using wilton bags with tips and it makes a HUGE difference!

Totally agree - always have a box of 100 on hand. And Wilton bags are SO much better than Ateco - can't stand the Ateco bags! The other baking tip I find unnecessary is the sifting of powdered sugar - i just skip it - it's messy and takes forever and it's never made a difference for me :) So I'm sticking to that!

Ah Ha!! There is a trick to this! I used to have a problem with ziplock bags. The busting at the seam etc. I prefer the Wilton bags but I run out quite often so I will use a ziplock. The trick is to re-enforce the corner that you are going to snip with scotch tape. Use your coupler and tip so you get the correct shape and size you desire for piping. Honestly after learning that trick I cant tell too much of a difference between a piping bag and a ziplock. Works like a charm. Do it all the time.

I'm just starting out and I tend to be a perfectionist so I went with the Wilton's. Whew! Glad to know I was 'right'. ;DAs far as tips on what doesn't work...Salt is never a good substitute for sugar and vice versa (and should be stored in completely different containers w/lots of space in between). Oh wait, maybe everyone already knew that.

Couldn't have said it better. I go through bags like crazy. I buy a box of 200 Ateco and always have them on hand. I don't think I've ever tried Wilton. For those of you who've tried both, which do you prefer?

The only time I've ever used baggies is with the kids while they decorate their gingerbread houses. Stiffer icing and you know what?... kids don't care. Plus being able to zip them up keeps the icing from coming out the top with their untrained hands holding the bag.

Just found your site and I swear the things you say as tips and thing like this sound like they're coming right out of my own head! Thank you about the piping bags! Sheesh- they cost as much for a huge box as sandwich bags do just buy that at the store too. I'll use parchment paper and go the old fashioned way if I run out but never baggies.

Reasons to have the reusable bags on hand at all times and that way if you run out of the nice disposable ones, you can still decorate. lol. I have around 7 of the reusable pastry bags and do use them often. But the throw away ones are easier... meaning no clean up. hehe

Features

Search Bake at 350

My Cookie Books

Popular Pages

double-decker striped valentine cookies...

take a pizza my heart cookies...

ombre hearts...

perfect cut-outs...

royal icing 101...

Bake at 350 is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Privacy

Hello!

Welcome to Bake at 350! I'm Bridget and I like all things sweet...especially cookie decorating. I hope you'll find some inspiration here. So, grab a chair (and a cookie) and let's get baking! [read more here >>]